Palmeiras show squad depth, cruise to home win despite absences | OneFootball

Despite the challenges Abel Ferreira faced in fielding the Palmeiras team with eight absences, the Verdão secured another dominant victory in the Brasileirão, thrashing Juventude 4-1 at Allianz Parque.

The eighth unbeaten home game in the competition showcased the best of Abel Ferreira's team: intense, highly committed to defending, and skilled in creating plays, as seen in the goals by Bruno Fuchs and Felipe Anderson.

From the moment Raphael Veiga scored at the 27th minute, Verdão loosened up – and more than just loosening up, they displayed good football with a lineup that was theoretically not well-integrated.

The offensive volume, despite not having many clear chances wasted, turned into the second goal and a special moment at Allianz Parque. At the 44th minute, Bruno Rodrigues received a pass from Murilo and scored with a header, capitalizing on a mistake by goalkeeper Jandrei. It was the striker's first goal since joining the club. He had been sidelined for two years due to severe injuries in both knees.

Palmeiras started the second half with the same intensity as they ended the first. At the third minute, Raphael Veiga delivered a precise cross from the left side, and Bruno Fuchs rose above the defense to head firmly and score the third goal for the team. Ten minutes later, Felipe Anderson sealed the attack with the fourth goal!

Even with a goal conceded towards the end, Verdão also used the night to boost the confidence of young players. Besides the debuts of midfielder Luis Pacheco and attacking midfielder Erick Belé, the team also saw good performances from Allan and Luighi, adding more depth to a game that already seemed (and was) decided.

The result is important for the standings, of course, as Palmeiras now leads by three points and has two more victories than the runner-up, Flamengo, but it counts the same three points as any other match. There are other things at stake. Winning a match with so many absences provides the necessary confidence for a team that needs to gain momentum in this final stretch of the season. And, in the manner it was achieved, it gives the coach the assurance to work with the squad's strength in the face of adversities.

What's next?

Palmeiras returns to the field for the Brasileirão next Wednesday (15th), at 7 PM (Brasília time), in a match against Red Bull Bragantino. Verdão is the leader of the Brasileirão with 58 points, holding a three-point lead over Flamengo.

Upcoming matches for Palmeiras

Palmeiras vs. Red Bull Bragantino – Brazilian Championship – 10/15 (Wednesday), 7 PM (Brasília time)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.